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sleeve length

post #1 of 21
4/23/11 at 12:58am
Thread Starter 
I love 80s London, but I may be trying to follow to much of it. I leave my jacket sleeve a bit longer than where my writs are, always covering up my shirts.

Should I just wear whatever is comfortable with myself? or Should I try to be up-to-date guy and show 1/4~1/2 inch of my shirts? In other words, would covering your shirt be another way of expressing yourself or just being dumb?
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post #2 of 21
4/23/11 at 1:09am
The "up to date" guy shows an inch and a half or more of cuff. Don't be him. Just a sliver is ideal, IMO.

Also, make sure your shirt cuffs fall in the right place before having your suits altered.
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post #3 of 21
4/23/11 at 11:53am
It sounds like your trying to justify your too long jacket sleeves as expression. Take it to a good tailor and have them brought up. You will find that you are probably more comfortable with a proper fitting coat than not.
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post #4 of 21
4/23/11 at 10:46pm
It's not a fad, 1/2" has been showing for a century.
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post #5 of 21
12/17/11 at 6:00am
As far as sleeve length for dress shirts, is the sleeve supposed to be touching the bottom of the palm when your hands are down? I've read its just supposed to be past the boney part b/t the hand and wrist. Is this correct?
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post #6 of 21
12/17/11 at 6:22am
Quote:
Originally Posted by trt2000 View Post

It's not a fad, 1/2" has been showing for a century.

Do you have any citations to prove this? I have spent years and years researching this painstakingly. It's been a journey like hunting the bottom of Loch Ness looking for my monster. Alas, I cannot find any evidence that there ever was a steafast 1/2" rule. I am afraid this and are few other Eternal Rules of Permanent Style repeated so often that they have become The Truth are really more like a sartorial myths of at best a personal preference. Of course, a couple of books do mentions this as a guide eg Roetzel but these are all extremely recent. I have found all manner of things stated as correct from no shirt sleeve showing, to 1/8" showing, to whatever you prefer. The last is probably the commonest, and probably the most correct.

Fashion also plays a role. Old photos suggest that at times such as the '60s when coats, and trousers hems are short so too were coat sleeves. So if you wear Thom Browne you should show a lot of shirt sleeve to keep things in harmony:

Thom-Browne.jpg
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post #7 of 21
12/17/11 at 6:34am
More Thom Browne:

ThomBrowne_shirtshowingmore.jpg
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post #8 of 21
12/17/11 at 7:05am
250438337
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post #9 of 21
12/17/11 at 7:43am
Quote:
Originally Posted by dieselman89 View Post

As far as sleeve length for dress shirts, is the sleeve supposed to be touching the bottom of the palm when your hands are down? I've read its just supposed to be past the boney part b/t the hand and wrist. Is this correct?

The shirt sleeve should not really reach your palm. Just past the bony part sounds about right; I like my jacket sleeve to end at the bony part (the radial styloid process?) and shirt cuff to extend 1/4" past that.
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post #10 of 21
12/17/11 at 7:46am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Sanguis Mortuum View Post

The shirt sleeve should not really reach your palm. Just past the bony part sounds about right; I like my jacket sleeve to end at the bony part (the radial styloid process?) and shirt cuff to extend 1/4" past that.

Thank you, my sleeve length reaches just to the start of the palm and I thought it was too long. It's frustrating though b/c a 33 is not quit long enough so I would technically need to shorten the sleeves of a 34 for it to be right, and thats an additional $15-25 depending where i take it.
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post #11 of 21
12/17/11 at 7:52am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Larson McCord View Post

250438337

None of these photos means much. Even if the sleeves were finished with no shirt showing with arms at the sides, once you strike those poses the shirt will always show.
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post #12 of 21
12/17/11 at 10:06am
Quote:
Originally Posted by dieselman89 View Post

Thank you, my sleeve length reaches just to the start of the palm and I thought it was too long. It's frustrating though b/c a 33 is not quit long enough so I would technically need to shorten the sleeves of a 34 for it to be right, and thats an additional $15-25 depending where i take it.

You should be able to make minor adjustments to how your sleeve lies by moving the button on the cuff. If your sleeve is too long by less than an inch, tightening the wrist by moving the button inwards may help keep the sleeve from falling too far down. You should be able to do this at home for free.
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post #13 of 21
12/17/11 at 10:20am
Before Reevolving or Iroh ask: how much sock should show beyond pants cuffs?

confused.gif
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post #14 of 21
12/17/11 at 10:34am
Quote:
Originally Posted by F. Corbera View Post

Before Reevolving or Iroh ask: how much sock should show beyond pants cuffs?
confused.gif

no more than half inch of mending.
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post #15 of 21
12/17/11 at 2:54pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by tgt465 View Post

You should be able to make minor adjustments to how your sleeve lies by moving the button on the cuff. If your sleeve is too long by less than an inch, tightening the wrist by moving the button inwards may help keep the sleeve from falling too far down. You should be able to do this at home for free.

Great suggestions! I will try this, it doesn't really "shorten" the sleeve just doesn't allow it as much wiggle to move.
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